Elections in 1843--Revenue--Efforts for dividing the
County--Elections in 1844--Special Charter--Elections in
1845--Revenue--Return of Prosperity--Elections in 1846--
Establishment 1846--Establishment of the "Beacon Light"--
Name Changed to "Junction Beacon"--Formation of Hook and
Ladder Company.
At an election held on the 20th of January, 1843, Churchill Coffing,
John R. Merritt, Z. Lewis, Ambrose O'Conner and John Hoffman were
elected Trustees. Whole number of votes 92.--This Board elected
Churchill Coffing, President; and T. D. Brewster, Treasurer. The revenue
arising from taxes on Real Estate was $262.
Peru, from her earliest history, had aspired to become a county seat.
Situated upon the extreme western verge of the County of La Salle, she
contemplated erecting a new one out of territory to be taken from La
Salle, Bureau and Putnam. This scheme was strenuously resisted by Ottawa
and the eastern portion of the county. A curtailment on the north and
east was cheerfully submitted to, in order to assist in preventing the
loss of the western jewel. Much acrimony was engendered by these
contests; and all elections for county officers or State Legislature
hinged upon this question. The Democratic party was largely in the
ascendant; but the schemes of the politicians of that ilk were
constantly baffled by the intrusion of this element. The completion of
the Canal and Rail Road, furnishing facilities for travel between the
two places, mainly put a stop to further agitation.
At an election held on the 25th November, 1844, Churchill Coffing, H.
Whitehead, David Dana, Wm. Paul and S. W. Raymond were elected Trustees.
Whole number of votes 45. This Board elected H. Whitehead, President; H.
S. Beebe, Clerk; J. B. Lovett, Fire Warden; Isaac Abraham, Treasurer; O.
C. Parmerly, Street Commissioner; Geo. Low, Collector and Assessor; and
E. M. Moore, Constable.
On the 25th February, 1845, an Act passed the Legislature, extending the
powers of the Trustees, and providing for their election in the
following April.
At an election held on the 7th April, 1845, Churchill Coffing, David
Dana, S. W. Raymond, Wm. Paul and H. Whitehead were elected Trustees.
Whole number of votes polled 39.
This Board elected HERMAN WHITEHEAD, President; H. S. BEEBE, Clerk; O.
C. PARMERLY, Street Commissioner; ISAAC D. HARMON, Treasurer; GEORGE
LOW, Assessor and Collector; E. M. MOORE, Constable; and J. B. LOVETT,
Fire Warden. By the death of Moore, the office of Constable soon became
vacant, and Z. Lewis, junior, was elected to fill it. The revenue,
arising from the tax on Real Estate, was this year $261,-86 cents.
A degree of prosperity had now been attained, little dreamed of three
years before. A large trade had gradually grown up and concentrated in
Peru. It was no uncommon thing to see wagons loaded with produce, from a
distance of sixty, eighty and an hundred miles, seeking a market at this
point, and returning loaded with merchandise purchased here. General
health, contentment and prosperity prevailed. Stores and dwellings
continued to be built, and population to increase.
At an election held on the 6th April, 1846, Jacob S. Beach, Churchill
Coffing, William Chumasero, A. M. Thrall and James Cahill were elected
Trustees. Whole number of votes 96. This Board elected Churchill
Coffing, President; H. S. Beebe, Clerk; George Low, Assessor and
Collector; S. W. Raymond, Street Commissioner; I. D. Harmon, Treasurer;
David Perry, Constable; and S. N. Maze, Fire Warden. H. F. Killum was
subsequently elected Street Commissioner, in place of Raymond who
resigned.
In May, another weekly newspaper was established by Nash and Elliott,
and called the "Beacon Light." Mr. Nash is the present Clerk of the
Circuit Court of La Salle county. The name of this paper was changed to
that of "Junction Beacon." It continued about two years under the
management of Mead, Higgins and Boyle, either together or successively,
and went out.
On the 5th December an ordinance was passed, authorizing the formation
of a Hook and Ladder Company, which was the first, last and only attempt
to form a Fire Department. The principle effect and probable design of
this ordinance was to exempt the members enrolled, from the performance
of jury duty. Thirty-five dollars were appropriated for implements; but
it is believed that none were ever capable of being brought into use, in
cases of emergency, although the town has been devastated since, with
many and serious fires.